Isolation of poliovirus from cases of acute flaccid paralysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency of isolation of polio and other viruses from fecal samples in subjects with acute flaccid paralysis in northern parts of India. SETTING: Rural and Urban Immunization Centers used for Expanded Programme on Immunization. METHODS: 219 fecal samples were collected by anal tube in 1992 from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh and processed for virus isolation. RESULTS: Of 219 fecal samples, 103 (47%) were positive for viruses in the age group of 3 mo to 5 yr. Amongst the positive samples, the predominant isolated was poliovirus type 1 (70.9%) from all the States. Non polio enteroviruses were isolated from 20.4% of fecal samples. CONCLUSION: Even though poliovirus is still the most common etiologic agent for acute flaccid paralysis in northern India, non polio enteroviruses are also emerging as important causal pathogens in this condition.